AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

Australian Biodiversity Record, 2007 (8): 1-124Disteira kingii (Boulenger, 1896)Hydrophis kingii Boulenger, G.A. (1896): Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus. [p. 276]. Type data: holotypeBMNH 1946.1.10.10. Type locality: N Australia.Description: This is a very elongate species of sea snake with a small head that is barelydistinct from the neck. The base body colour is pale greyish-white, (more so ventrolaterally),and the head and throat is black with a distinctive white ring around the eye. The body and tailis conspicuously marked with a transverse series of about 45-50 large broad dark greyishbrownto black blotches or saddles. This pattern forms a broad banded appearance with paleinterspaces dorsally and this runs along the entire body and onto the tail. The most anterior ofthese broad dark bars is separated from the dark head by a narrow whitish bar or band at theneck. The darker blotches are more prominent on the upper lateral, as the lower area isgenerally paler (light creamish) than the pale dorsal interspaces. Sometimes these largertriangular lateral blotches merge to form a longitudinal series along the body; a similarlongitudinal series of smaller blackish spots or mini-blotches usually occurs along the lowerlateral as well. The ventral surface is dark, and this is formed by a blackish mid-ventral stripe.Some significant features of this species’ morphology are: head shields large andsymmetrical; 2-3 maxillary teeth following fang; supralabials 7-8; preocular present;postoculars 2-3; temporals 1+2; prefrontal in contact with second supralabial; anterior chinshields large and contacting mental groove (in Disteira major, the elongate infralabials contactthe mental groove, which results in the small chin shields either being completely excludedfrom contacting the mental groove, or at best allowing only point contact); body scalesstrongly imbricate and keeled dorsally, but weaker imbrication and smooth laterally; bodyscales at neck 22-29; mid-body scales in about 34-40 rows; ventrals range 299-337, small,mostly undivided and only about twice as wide as adjacent body scales; anal scales notenlarged. Attains a maximum total length of around 2.0 m., although a specimen 1.7m totallength would be very large.Distribution: Known mainly from tropical Australian seas (including New Guinea), being foundoff the coasts of Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, commonly to aboutBarrow Island, with rare occurrences to about as far south as Perth. It is only known rarely inNew South Wales.Habitat: Inhabits deep water reefs as well as relatively deep continental shelf waters withsandy or muddy bottoms. Activity has been recorded in water depths ranging from around 2metres to 22 metres. Occasionally reported from inshore estuarine waters, sandy bays orfound beached after storms.Biology/Ecology: This is essentially a fast-swimming diurnal species that feeds on a widevariety of small fishes (mainly Anguilliformes). It appears to be a seasonally reproductivespecies, with gravid females being found in the Wet Season (January to March), and birthsapparently taking place during the Autumn or early Dry Season. Usually about 5 youngcomprise a litter (range 1-9). Occasional snakes are found encrusted in barnacles.Toxicity: This is species that rarely attempts to bite under normal circumstances, but cautionshould nevertheless be exerted, because its venom is highly toxic to humans. Urgent medicalattention should always be sought in the event of a bite from this species.Survival Status: Protected under the Qld Nature Conservation Act (1992), the Territory Parksand Wildlife Conservation Act (1998) and the WA Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (asamended). Protected under the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) butnot listed in that State as a Threatened Species in any of the Schedules of the NSWThreatened Species Conservation Act (1995). Listed as a Marine Protected Species underthe Australian Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Probablynot under threat, as it is rarely taken as by-catch in fishing operations, but its restricteddistribution in Australian waters could potentially make it vulnerable in some parts of its range.Etymology: The name 'kingii' honours British explorer and naturalist Admiral Philip ParkerKing (1791-1856) who collected the Type Specimen.31